Great North Run apologises for Sunderland map on 2025 medals

The organisers of the 2025 Great North Run have issued an apology after mistakenly featuring a map of Sunderland, including the River Wear and the Stadium of Light, on the finisher T-shirts and medals instead of the correct map of Newcastle, Gateshead, and South Shields along the River Tyne. This error went unnoticed by both the organisers and the event founder, Sir Brendan Foster, who admitted he did not spot the mistake despite living on the River Tyne his whole life. More than 60,000 runners completed the 13.1-mile race, which starts in Newcastle and finishes in South Shields, and many participants and spectators expressed surprise and amusement on social media about the mix-up. The organisers quickly dispelled rumours that the map indicated a future route change for the run, confirming it was an unintentional error. Despite the mistake, the event was celebrated as a success, with Newcastle United stars present at the start line and the organisers calling the 2025 medals and T-shirts the most unique in the event’s history. They expressed gratitude to the participants and supporters, promising to pay closer attention to geography for the 2026 race.